How to use
- Pick US or metric units. Enter the wall length and height, or the total area.
- Add the doors and windows. Each row is one size of opening, and "How many" lets you count several of the same size.
- Choose your brick. US sizes use the Brick Industry Association (BIA) counts. For a UK brick, choose "UK standard". If your brick is something else, choose "Custom" and enter its size and the joint.
- Choose one layer or two. Leave the extra at 5%, or change it.
- Select "Calculate" to see the number of bricks, and the mortar for US sizes.
How the brick count is calculated
Each brick takes up its face plus one mortar joint on the side and one on top. The number of bricks per square foot is 144 ÷ ((length + joint) × (height + joint)), with everything in inches. In metric, it is 1,000,000 ÷ ((length + joint) × (height + joint)) per square meter, with everything in millimeters. Multiply by the wall area after you take out the openings, then round up.
Example, with the formula: a brick with an actual size of 7-5/8 × 2-1/4 inches and a 3/8 inch joint takes up 8 × 2-5/8 inches of wall, which is 21 square inches. 144 ÷ 21 = 6.857 bricks per square foot. A wall 10 ft by 8 ft is 80 square feet, and 80 × 6.857 = 548.6, which rounds up to 549 bricks. You can check this with the "Custom" option.
Example, with a US modular brick: the same wall with the BIA modular count of 6.75 per square foot needs 80 × 6.75 = 540 bricks. The two answers differ because modular bricks are laid three courses to 8 inches. Each course is 2-2/3 inches high, not 2-5/8. For modular brick, use the preset.
Example, UK: a 215 × 65 mm brick with a 10 mm joint takes up 225 × 75 mm, which is 16,875 square millimeters or 0.016875 m². 1 ÷ 0.016875 = 59.26 bricks per m². A 10 m² wall needs 592.6, which rounds up to 593 bricks.
US brick sizes and counts
These counts are for one layer of brick and do not include waste. Mortar is cubic feet per 100 square feet of wall with a 3/8 inch joint. All figures are from BIA Technical Note 10, Table 4.
| Brick | Size | Bricks per sq ft | Bricks per 100 sq ft | Mortar per 100 sq ft (3/8 in joint) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modular | Nominal 4 × 2-2/3 × 8 in | 6.75 | 675 | 5.5 cu ft |
| Engineer modular | Nominal 4 × 3-1/5 × 8 in | 5.63 | 563 | 4.8 cu ft |
| Norman | Nominal 4 × 2-2/3 × 12 in | 4.50 | 450 | 5.1 cu ft |
| Roman | Nominal 4 × 2 × 12 in | 6.00 | 600 | 6.4 cu ft |
| Utility | Nominal 4 × 4 × 12 in | 3.00 | 300 | 3.7 cu ft |
| Queen | Specified 2-3/4 × 2-3/4 × 7-5/8 in | 5.50 | 550 | 6.7 cu ft |
| King | Specified 2-3/4 × 2-5/8 × 9-5/8 in | 4.55 | 455 | 6.5 cu ft |
| Standard | Specified 3-5/8 × 2-1/4 × 8 in | 6.55 | 655 | 9.5 cu ft |
| Engineer standard | Specified 3-5/8 × 2-13/16 × 8 in | 5.39 | 539 | 8.2 cu ft |
Modular bricks are listed by nominal size, which already includes the joint. The others are listed by the size of the brick itself, so the joint is added in the count. The counts are the BIA's published numbers, and the BIA bases them on each brick's vertical coursing, so they can differ a little from the simple formula. Names and sizes vary by manufacturer, so check yours. If your brick is not on the list, use "Custom".
UK brick
The Brick Development Association says UK manufacturers make bricks to a standard size of 215 mm long, 102.5 mm wide, and 65 mm high, and that setting out with a nominal 10 mm joint gives a co-ordinating size of 225 × 112.5 × 75 mm. The calculator uses the 225 mm length and 75 mm height for a wall face. The joint field is editable if your mason uses a different joint. No mortar figure is shown for UK bricks because this page does not have a published quantity for them.
Mortar
For US sizes, the calculator multiplies the BIA's mortar per 100 square feet by the wall area after openings, and by the number of layers. The BIA says these are theoretical volumes in the joints, without waste. The BIA adds that 1 cubic foot of loose, damp sand makes about 1 cubic foot of mortar. For a mix, follow ASTM C270 or the product's bag. A two-layer wall can also have mortar between the layers, which this calculator does not include. The BIA gives 3.13 cubic feet per 100 square feet for a solid 3/8 inch collar joint.
Bond patterns and corners
The BIA tables assume running or stack bond. If you lay full header bricks, you need more. The BIA's worked example for a standard brick with full headers every fifth course raises 655 bricks per 100 square feet to 786, about 20% more. Corners, soldier courses, and special shapes also change the count. Treat this tool as a starting figure, and have your supplier or mason check it.
Common mistakes
- Leaving out the joint. If you divide the area by the brick face alone, you will under-count. Each brick takes up its size plus a mortar joint.
- Mixing nominal and actual sizes. A nominal size already includes the joint. Do not add the joint again.
- Forgetting the second layer. A wall two bricks thick takes twice the bricks.
- Skipping the openings. Subtract doors and windows from the area.
- Ordering the exact count. Bricks break and get cut. Leave an allowance, and buy all your bricks from one lot if the color matters.
Sources
US brick sizes, bricks per 100 square feet, mortar quantities, modular coursing, collar joint mortar, and header bond example: Brick Industry Association, Technical Note 10, "Dimensioning and Estimating Brick Masonry" (Tables 1, 2, 4, and 5, and the correction factors). UK brick work size, 10 mm joint, and co-ordinating size: Brick Development Association, "Designing to Brickwork Dimensions" technical guide (2023), and its "Aesthetic Brickwork" guide.
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Frequently asked questions
How many bricks do I need per square foot?
It depends on the brick size. A US modular brick (nominal 4 by 2-2/3 by 8 inches) takes 6.75 bricks per square foot, or 675 per 100 square feet. A standard brick takes 6.55, and a queen brick takes 5.50. These counts come from the Brick Industry Association (BIA) and do not include waste.
How many bricks do I need for a wall?
Multiply the wall length by the height to get the area, subtract doors and windows, then multiply by the bricks per square foot for your brick. A wall 10 feet long and 8 feet high is 80 square feet. With modular bricks that is 80 × 6.75 = 540 bricks before any extra.
How many bricks are in a square meter in the UK?
A standard UK brick is 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm. With a 10 mm mortar joint, each brick takes up 225 × 75 mm of wall face, which is 0.016875 square meters. 1 ÷ 0.016875 is 59.26, so plan on about 59 or 60 bricks per square meter for a single layer.
How many bricks do I need for a double-layer wall?
Double the count. A wall that is two bricks thick has two layers (wythes), so it takes twice as many bricks as one layer for the same wall area. Choose 2 under "Layers" in the calculator.
How much mortar do I need for 1,000 bricks?
For modular bricks with a 3/8 inch joint, the BIA estimates 8.1 cubic feet of mortar per 1,000 bricks, without waste. BIA also notes the mason's rule of thumb that eight bags of masonry cement will lay 1,000 modular bricks, which is rough and includes waste.
Why does my own math give a different count than the table?
Modular bricks are laid three courses to 8 inches, so each course is 2-2/3 inches high, not the 2-5/8 inches you get from a 2-1/4 inch brick plus a 3/8 inch joint. That small difference is why 6.75 per square foot (BIA) differs from the 6.86 you get from the actual size and joint. Use the preset when your brick is a modular size.
Should I add extra bricks?
Yes. The calculator adds 5% by default for breakage and cuts. That is a planning allowance, not a BIA figure, and the BIA tables are stated without waste. Bond patterns that use header bricks also add bricks. The BIA example for full headers every fifth course adds about 20%.